KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mark Teixeira was not in the lineup for the Yankees’ Sunday matinee against the Royals. His absence for was no particular reason. He did not suffer a new injury. He was not sick. He did not ask for a respite. Joe Girardi was simply being “proactive” with his first baseman.

This is the new reality for Teixeira. His right wrist, surgically repaired last summer, is sore everyday. That will not change this season, doctors have insisted. But he and the Yankees must figure out how to manage the pain and avoid letting it worsen to the point of missing multiple games like he did in late May when the wrist flared up and he was out for three straight contests.

In order to do that, the occasional day off is required. As much as the Yankees thirst for Teixeira’s power, the risk, the club’s brass has decided, is too great.

“I know he’s played four or five days in a row here,” Girardi said. “So we thought we’d give him a day and then have him back in there tomorrow.”

The Yankees' floundering offense misses Teixeira’s presence when he is on the bench. Teixeira, 34, has only played in 42 of the team’s 61 games, but leads the club with 10 home runs. His .831 on-base-plus-slugging percentage is also tops on the roster.

Girardi explained he did not know if Teixeira would require rest on a regular basis for the entire season. “I hope not,” he said.

But he does not know if Teixeira, making $22.5 million this season, will be able to shoulder the burden of playing everyday this summer.

“I can’t tell you exactly what it’s going to be,” Girardi said. “I can’t play God or doctor here. I’m not going to try to do that, but it’s a quick turnaround, day game after a night game, and it was a pretty long game yesterday. I felt I’d give him today, and we’re in a stretch of 17 in a row, so he’s going to need a day somewhere.”